THE 'MCDONALD'S TEST' FOR FAKE BANKNOTES

An image of a counterfeit $50 note (bottom) alongside a legitimate one

From pineapple on a burger, to fake "pineapples" over the counter. McDonald's workers are now the key test for detecting counterfeit $50 notes, according to evidence given in a recent court case.

Two Melbourne plasterers have been jailed for four years after they pleaded guilty to manufacturing nearly $90,000 in counterfeit money uncovered in a raid on the Burvale Hotel in Nunawading.

Brad Flynn, 38, and John Maugeri, 46, admitted in the County Court to printing the fake $50 banknotes, which the prosecution said rated an eight out of 10 on the so-called "McDonald's test" standard of deception.

The test was explained as whether the fake cash was good enough to be spent at a McDonald's-type business, rather than passed at a bank where experts would be handling the notes.

Judge Michael McInerney wrote in his reasons for sentencing that he was "somewhat surprised that there was no better evidence" before the court than the McDonald's test.

But after examining the currency himself he agreed the quality was high enough to be spent at a business such as the fast food giant.

"I did not see any reason why they would not pass, based upon my own observation, in the community," he wrote.

More than 22,000 fake $50 notes worth over $1.1 million were uncovered in 2015/16, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia.

The once state-of-the-art security measures used in the design of the polymer banknote are now more than 20 years old, which has made it vulnerable to advances in digital imaging and printing technology.

To read the complete article, see:
'McDonald's test' the key to UNCOVERING FAKE NOTES (www.theage.com.au/victoria/mcdonalds-test-the-key-to-uncovering-fake-50-notes-20161002-grthtz.html)

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